trimming the tree

I don't know about the rest of you, but I was SO ready to get Christmas stuff put up this year. Maybe because it feels WAY colder than last year. Or maybe because my parents are coming to visit this year. Or maybe it's just how exciting Christmas is for the kids. Whatever the reason we spent our Saturday getting everything put up. Carlie's favorite job was handing out ornaments. Her little fingers couldn't quite get the ornaments on the branches, and she was getting pretty upset!
For some reason Meg couldn't WAIT to put the snowflakes up outside.

I love the box of memories that comes out at Christmas. My grandma gave us these three little angels, for our three little angels last year and I think they may be my favorite ornaments. And these girls love them. What a great way reason to think of great-grandma every year.

Carlie putting the final bow on the tree. Our home-made tree topper with ribbon from the $1 store after we were first married. I still love it!

Our snowflake candy cane tree!

More memories. . . This book was written and illustrated by some old friends of ours. We worked for Rexburg Housing together, back in the day. He has since become a very talented illustrator and our kids love this book. We keep it with our Christmas stuff so it will hold up over the years. The elf Sam, is named after his son who was born a few weeks before Lucy.

My favorite part? Singing season! I love singing, and performing but don't seem to have the time I used to, or the opportunity. But Christmas changes that. I'm working on two solos this week, plus a number or accompaniments, a Christmas recital, caroling, all the ward choir stuff and getting ready for an audition. Meg is auditioning too, that kid is going to tempt me to become a stage mom! It's a lot of work and I love it!